Behavioural Psychology and Phobias
Phobias
Behavioural traits
Cognitive traits
Emotional traits
Fear
Cued by presence of phobic object
Fear is disproportionate
Avoiding phobic object
When phobic object is present, freezing up or even fainting
Thought processes around phobic object are irrational
Resistance to rational arguments
The sufferer is aware of this.
Explaining phobias
The two-process model
A hypothetical model consisting of two stages...
2. Operant conditioning
1. Classical conditioning
How phobias develop.
A Neutral Stimulus is paired with a stimulus associated with an Unconditioned Response of fear
The Neutral Stimulus is associated with a Conditioned Response of fear.
Why phobias last.
Avoiding the Conditioned Stimulus reduces feelings of fear
This reinforces the behaviour (avoidance) and causes the phobic to continue repeating it.
(This is negative reinforcement)
Social learning theory
Phobias may come from modelling the phobic behaviour of others.
EVALUATION
There is experimental evidence to support this.
Participants watched a model act as if he was in pain every time a buzzer sounded.
They later showed an emotional reaction to the buzzer
This was an acquired fear response.
EVALUATION
Classical conditioning is not always relevant
Not every phobic can recall an incident that may have conditioned a fear response resulting in a phobia.
Suggesting that the two-process model is not always applicable.
The diathesis-stress model can be used to strengthen this theory
It suggests that we can inherit a genetic vulnerability to mental disorders, but a disorder will only develop if triggered by a life event.
This explains why some people have fearful experiences without developing a phobia...
...Making the two-process model stronger and more plausible.
It ignores cognitive factors
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